Charles c



(No Model.)

O. O. TOMBS.

FOLDING CHAIR. No. 666,103. Patented June 21,1898.

witnesses, @W 9. (M W thvrrnn STATES NT FFICE.

CHARLES O. TOMBS, OF JOHNSTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS J.FEARL AND ROBERT FERGUSON, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,103, dated June 21,1898. v

.Applioation filed September 23,1896. Serial No. 606,752. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. Tones, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ohnstown, in the county of Oambria and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to'certain new and usefulimprovements in foldingchairs or seats; and it has for its object, among others, to provide asimple and cheap folding seat that will be found most convenient for usebehind counters in stores, in barber-shops, billiardrooms, and otherplaces where economy of space is desired. It can be supported from anysuitable support and quickly lowered to its operative or supportingposition when desired. It may be provided with any desired style of seatportion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention in this instance resides in the peculiar combinations andthe construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as morefully hereinafter described,shown inthe drawings,and then particularlypointed out in the claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a front View showing the chairin position for use. Fig. 2 is aplan of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection through the line 1 of Fig. 1, showing the chair folded. Fig. 4is a vertical section on the line 2 of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring -now to the details of the drawin gs by letter, A designates asection of a wall or other support to which is securedby screws or othermeans the strip B, to which the seat portion 0 is secured by hinges F,so as to fold up, as shown, or to be thrown down into position for use.These hinges are spring-hinges of any of the well-known forms suited tothe purpose.

To/the under side of the seat portion at the front are hinged, as atG,the legs D,which are connected by the bar or rung E, as shown.

The operation will be apparent. The hinges F are of sufficient strengthto elevate the chair to the position shown in Fig. 3, from which it maybe easily thrown down into the position in which it is seen in Fig. 1.Then folded, it occupies but little room and requires no extraneousmeans for holding it in thecloscd position. I

The upper edge of the strip .13 is straight and arranged horizontally,and the rear edge of the seat O is also straight, and when the said seatis in elevated position its rear edge bears directly upon the strip]3,'and the preponderanceof weight of said seat being to one side orrearward of the center of movement of the spring-hinges an auxiliarysupport is instituted for assisting in holding the said seat in elevatedposition and prevent accidental dropping thereof in the event of theweakening of the springs of the connecting-hinges and also relieve saidhinges of an undue strain. It will be observed that an equilibrium ofposition is set up when the rear edge of the seat bears upon the upperside of the strip, as shown by Fig. '3, that said seat will be sustainedin an upright position, said position being in part maintained by thesprings of the hinges and the engagement of the rear edge of the seatwith the upper edge of the strip. Furthermore, the seat whenautomatically arranged by the spring-hinges will be prevented frommoving back of a predetermined distance by the straight edge at the rearof said seat striking the upper straight edge of the strip 13, and

thereby avoid straining the fastenings of the connecting-hinges.

What is claimed as new is-- 1. The combination with a support, of astrip secured thereto and having an upper straight edge, a seat having astrip along the rear edge thereof formed with a straight surface andadapted to rest, when in folded position, directly on the top of thehorizontal strip and be held in a perpendicular position, anautomatically folding leg hinged to the under portion of the said seat,and spring hinges connecting the strip at the rear edge of the seat withthe said horizontal strip, the said seat with its leg beingautomatically raised by the action of the spring-hinges and preventedfrom moving backward beyond a'predetermined point by the straightsurface of the rear edge thereof engaging the upper straight surface ofthe horizontal strip, the hinges connecting said strips beingrespectively applied to the under rear portion of the seat-strip and theupper outer portion of the horizontal strip, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a support, of a horizontal strip secured theretoand provided with an upper straight edge, a seat having legs hinged tothe outer front portion thereof and provided with a strip along the rearedge, also formed with a straight surface of less width than the saidhorizontal strip and adapted to rest on the latter when in foldedposition, and spring-hinges connecting the strip at the rear of theseat, and the said horizontal strip and serving to automatically raisethe said seat, the said seat when elevated being perpendicularlypositioned and the preponderance of its weight applied to the rear ofthe hinges and acting as an auxiliary to the springs of said hinges tomaintain the seat in elevated position.

The combination with a support, of a in backward movement by thestraight edge of the rear strip thereof engaging the upper surface ofthe horizontal strip to avoid the strain on the connecting hinges andalso facilitate the maintenance of an upright position thereof, and legshinged to the outer under portion of the said seat and automaticallyfolded when the seat is raised, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES C. TOMBS.

\Vitnesses:

W. L. KYLER, ALEX. N. HART.

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